Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 16 has the densest concentration of LORD-sayings in Solomon's collection — eleven divine-references in 33 verses. Verse 9 — 'the heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps' — is a classic human-plans-vs-divine-sovereignty axiom. Verse 18's 'pride goes before destruction' is proverbial.
Notable Variants
16:9 'heart of man plans, LORD establishes' — divine-sovereignty-over-human-plans axiom; 16:18 'pride goes before destruction' proverbial-phrase source; 16:33 'the lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD' → Acts 1:26 Matthias-election warrant.
Structural Notes
MT Prov 16 = LXX Prov 16. 33 verses.
A person may arrange his thoughts, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.
'The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD' tracks MT.
All a person's ways seem clean to him, but the LORD weighs the motives.
'All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit' tracks MT. LORD-WEIGHS-THE-SPIRIT. 1 Corinthians 4:4 ('I am not aware of anything against myself … it is the Lord who judges me') extends.
Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
'Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established' tracks MT. COMMIT-YOUR-WORK devotion-axiom.
The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
'The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble' tracks MT. EVEN-THE-WICKED-FOR-A-PURPOSE. Romans 9:22 ('vessels of wrath prepared for destruction') extends.
Everyone with an arrogant heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
'Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished' tracks MT.
By faithful love and truth wrongdoing is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns from evil.
'By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil' tracks MT. CHESED-ATONES-INIQUITY — proto-atonement theology.
When the LORD is pleased with a person's ways, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
'When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him' tracks MT.
Better a little gained with righteousness than great income without justice.
'Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice' tracks MT.
A person's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
'The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps' tracks MT. HEART-PLANS-LORD-ESTABLISHES. James 4:13–15 ('if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that') directly echoes. One of the Psalter-Proverbs' most-quoted-in-devotional-life texts.
An oracle is on the lips of the king; his mouth must not betray justice.
'An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment' tracks MT.
Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His work.
'A just balance and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work' tracks MT. JUST-BALANCE divine-standard (// Prov 11:1).
Wicked conduct is detestable to kings, for a throne is established by righteousness.
'It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness' tracks MT.
Righteous speech delights kings, and they love the one who speaks honestly.
'Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right' tracks MT.
A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise person can appease it.
'A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it' tracks MT.
In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.
'In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain' tracks MT.
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is preferable to silver.
'How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver' tracks MT. WISDOM-BETTER-THAN-GOLD valuation (// Prov 3:14, 8:10–11).
The highway of the upright turns away from evil; whoever guards his path preserves his life.
'The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life' tracks MT.
Before destruction comes arrogance, and before a fall comes a haughty spirit.
'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall' tracks MT. PRIDE-BEFORE-FALL. The 'pride goes before a fall' proverb's source-text. Matt 23:12 ('whoever exalts himself will be humbled') Christologically extends.
Better to be humble in spirit among the lowly than to divide plunder with the proud.
'It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud' tracks MT.
Whoever is attentive to a matter will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD — how fortunate he is.
'Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD' tracks MT.
The wise in heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
'The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness' tracks MT.
Insight is a fountain of life for the one who has it, but the discipline of fools is foolishness.
'Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly' tracks MT.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his speech.
'The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips' tracks MT.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb — sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
'Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body' tracks MT. GRACIOUS-WORDS-AS-HONEYCOMB — Ps 119:103, 19:10 honey-word tradition.
There is a path that seems straight to a person, but its end is the ways of death.
'There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death' tracks MT. REPEAT of Prov 14:12 — the self-deception diagnostic gets repeated for emphasis.
The appetite of a worker works for him, for his hunger drives him on.
'A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on' tracks MT.
A worthless person digs up evil, and on his lips is something like a scorching fire.
'A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire' tracks MT.
A perverse person sows conflict, and a whisperer separates close friends.
'A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends' tracks MT. WHISPERER-SEPARATES-FRIENDS — slander-ethics.
A violent person lures his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
'A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good' tracks MT.
Whoever narrows his eyes is plotting perversion; whoever purses his lips brings evil to completion.
'Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass' tracks MT.
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is found on the path of righteousness.
'Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life' tracks MT. GRAY-HAIR-CROWN-OF-GLORY — elderly-honor ethic.
Better a patient person than a warrior, and one who controls his temper than one who captures a city.
'Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city' tracks MT. RULES-HIS-SPIRIT-BETTER-THAN-CONQUEROR. Self-mastery over military-conquest.
The lot is cast into the lap, but every decision belongs to the LORD.
'The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD' tracks MT. LOT-DECISION-FROM-LORD. Acts 1:26 (the apostles casting lots for Matthias to replace Judas) deploys this theology — the lot falls by-divine-determination. The last-biblical-lot-casting before Pentecost's Spirit-distribution-of-gifts.